I first met Chief Wanderer of Wanderlust and Lipstick, Beth Whitman, when she signed up for my “Travel Writing for Fun & Profit” class more years ago than I care to remember. We exchanged books, her then brand-new Wanderlust and Lipstick: For Women Traveling to India for my Work Worldwide: International Career Strategies for the Adventurous Job Seeker. We stayed in touch over the next few years, meeting up at various travel events throughout the Seattle area. Soon after my dazzling tour of Alaska’s Inside Passage in 2010, Beth invited me to join her roster of Wanderbloggers, and a fun, profitable partnership was born.

Too-many-to-count trips later for both of us, Beth has made the decision to take Wanderlust and Lipstick in a new direction. As her mission remains inspiring women to travel, especially solo, it makes sense for her to bring her site back to her original roots. In the meantime, we Wanderbloogers are using Beth’s news as a catalyst to move headlong into our own bold new adventurers.

My new travel site, WanderBoomer.com, is under design as I write this farewell post to you, my loyal readers. When my site launches, you will be the first to know. Expect continuing coverage of fascinating worldwide destinations, travel tips on how to travel smart, photography inspiration and much more! In the meantime, be sure to follow me for updates on my social media sites:

It’s been a joy sharing my travels on Wanderlust and Lipstick! YOU have inspired me, through your comments and conversations, to leave my cultural baggage at home, seek out new adventures, and above all, to keep on moving. I thank Beth for the opportunity to be part of such a fabulous community and you, my readers, for your on-going support and shared love of all things travel.

You arrive at the airport to catch an early morning flight for an important business meeting in a different city. The flight, however, is delayed, kicking your stress level up a notch. You decide to grab a bite to eat before boarding but your healthy eating options are limited. By the time you arrive at your destination, you’re a little more relaxed until you discover that your luggage didn’t make it.

On a scale of 1 – 100, women gave this category a rating of 83 – the highest of all stress categories – a full six points of stress more than men.

Action Step: The easiest option to combat the stress of lost luggage is to travel only with a carry-on bag that stays with you at all times. Travel light. Wear your heaviest shoes (typically running shoes). Pack only one other pair that you can color-coordinate with your professional attire.

#2 – Poor or No Internet Connection

Photo courtesy of flickr – tachyondecay

Women gave this category a rating of 81, seven points of stress higher than their male counterparts.

Action Step: Prepare a back-up plan before your trip. Dropbox, for instance, is a free service that allows you to access your files from any computer. Even if you can’t access the Internet from your hotel room, chances are good that the hotel business center can meet your needs.

#3 – Flying Economy on Medium/Long Haul

Interestingly enough, the business women respondents gave this category a 71, three points less than male business travelers. While the survey includes business women under age 30 to over 60 years of age, the authors came to the conclusion that the stress of traveling medium to long distances increases with age.

Action Step: If you can’t convince your company to book you in business class, ask for seat preference, whether aisle or window, front or back of the airplane, wherever you feel less stressed. Bring your favorite comfort aids like an inflatable travel pillow, travel throw, noise-cancelling headphones, favorite foods, DVDs, music or reading material to help you enjoy the flight as much as possible.

#4 – Delays

In this category, women responded with a rating of 75 compared to their male counterparts’ rating of 71.

Action Step: The same aids that give you comfort when flying economy on medium to long distances can help again when you have time to kill at the airport. But you can also use the unexpected delay to browse through gift stores, get in a little walking exercise, call family or friends, even have a neck and shoulder massage to reduce the tension of waiting for your next flight.

#5 – Inconvenient Departure/Arrival Times

Women respondents gave this category a rating of 71 compared to 68 for men. Whenever travel plans disrupt family time or require adjustments in one’s daily routine, stress typically follows.

Action Step: Sometimes the best strategy for handling stress is simply to accept the things you can’t change. You might not have control over your flight schedule but you can choose how you react to the inconvenience. Planning a fun event with family and friends for your return home gives you something to look forward to while you’re away.

What causes you the most stress when you travel for business, Wanderboomers? How do you cope?

An article in the Sunday New York Times asserts that Boomers have been travel pacesetters since our student years when we hoisted backbacks and headed to Europe. Not surprisingly then, the writer claims that the travel industry has once again set their sights on our generation in 2013. And why not? Collectively, we’re about 26% of the population and control much of the country’s disposable income.

Since many Boomers plan to postpone retirement due to lost investments and a sputtering economy, the promise of taking a leisurely 3 week or longer trip has faded to the practical “What can I experience in a week to 10 days?” Consequently, tour operators are designing shorter itineraries to meet the needs of working boomers.

But let’s hope that the trend doesn’t regress to “How many countries can I pack into a week?” I’m reminded of a quote by Georgia O’Keeffe: “Nobody sees a flower – really – it is so small it takes time – we haven’t time – and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.” While it’s good to have tour options, discovering the heart of a locale takes time.

We Boomers are adventurers. We want to explore exotic locales, visit places previously off-limits that have opened up again for travelers, like Myanmar and Cuba. We want to hike, bike and climb mountains before our knees and hearts give out.

BUT, and this is a very important BUT, we do like our creature comforts. Our days of staying in youth hostels have fled along with the passing of our years. We wonder what’s wrong with a little indulgence, like luxury tents, gourmet food and a gentle massage after a day of hiking.

BUT, and this is another very important BUT, what about the travel trend of asking for Wi-fi connection wherever we go, even if in remote locations? Do we really need to stay connected to friends and family on Facebook 24/7 when traveling? Consciously taking time off-the-grid allows us to discover deeper connection to ourselves, our planet and each other.

Multigenerational Travel

Multigenerational travel is not a new trend. Grandparents have been taking their kids and grandkids along on their trips for the last several years. But Boomers have redefined what used to be specialized tours for grandparents and their families. More of us are still parents of children under 18 at what was once considered grandparenting age.

As the WanderBoomer mom of a 14-year-old, I can attest to that, and tour operators are scrambling to meet our changing travel needs.

Emphasis on Local Color

Another trend cited in the NYT’s piece is that Boomers relish having unique, authentic travel experiences, with the emphasis being on “experiences.” Many of us are widely traveled. Plus, deeply connecting with a culture, the local people and places makes up for having spent too many nights in chain hotels whether traveling for business or pleasure. Experiences allow us to become participants in a culture rather than simply voyeurs.

Customized Travel Options

We Boomers are individualists who balk at being stereotyped, herded into groups or labeled “seniors.” Travel companies have taken notice by acknowledging our youthfulness in their marketing copy. And travel operators catering to Boomers are building in more free time so we have the best of both worlds: community and comraderie, along with plenty of opportunities to take personalized side excursions.

What do you think, Wanderboomers? How do your travel plans in 2013 fit with these travel trends?

I’m feeling a little blue, a little out of sorts today. All because of a 200-pound tortoise, estimated to be between 80 – 100 years old, who passed away in the Galapágos Islands on Sunday.

At first glance, you might wonder at the world’s affection for such a slow-moving, plant-chomping, independent-minded creature. But Lonesome George was the last of his kind, a member of the Chelonoidis nigra abingdoni subspecies. Sadly, much of the tortoise population dwindled in the 19th century as they became easy prey for whalers, sailors and fisherman who prized their fresh meat.

I had the good fortune to “meet” George on my trip to the Galapágos last summer. In a previous post, I wrote that he had been living in his enclosure on Santa Cruz Island since the 1970’s, after being discovered alone on Pinta Island. Over the years, park officials had introduced potential female mates in the hopes that George would be able to procreate, saving his subspecies from extinction. But it was not to be.

Never mind, Lonesome George. We loved you all the same. While you don’t leave a biological legacy, your passing does serve as a poignant reminder of other endangered animals on our planet, such as the Sumatran Tiger, Giant Pandas and Polar Bears. Will we also witness their demise in our lifetime?

What are your memories of Lonesome George, Wanderboomers? Share with us here.

Lucky Seattle to have scored the current featured exhibit at The Seattle Art Museum (SAM), Gauguin and Polynesia: An Elusive Paradise. What a lovely way for visitors to wile away a cloudy afternoon (as suggested in my last post). I came away feeling so enriched by the dazzling colors of Gauguin’s paintings, so appreciative of the opportunity to learn more about his life and peripatetic lifestyle.

From the program notes and audio guide to the exhibit, we learn that Gauguin’s wanderings began early when as a toddler he set sail for Peru with his family to live with relatives for four years. As a young merchant marine, his travels took him to Brazil, India, the Arctic Circle and the United Kingdom. His settling down period came with his return to Paris when he married a Danish woman and began a career as a stockbroker while painting on the side.

But Gauguin’s domestic bliss and banking success were interrupted by the stock market crash after which he developed a lifelong obsession with art. Gauguin moved his family to Copenhagen and returned to Brittany, before continuing on to Martinique to paint. He returned to France and later spent time with Van Gogh in Arles.

Still restless, Gauguin traversed the globe in search of a place of unspoiled beauty, an idyllic landscape far away from France and impressionism where he could paint in earnest.

The exhibit follows Gauguin’s trail to Tahiti and his adaptation of Polynesian sources in his artwork, from carvings to sculptures to paintings. Ultimately, Gauguin’s quest for a simpler time away from French colonial influences led him to an even more remote location, the Marquesas Islands, where he died and was buried in 1903.

After wallowing in the sunny yellows and brilliant blues of Gauguin’s paintings, you’ll (almost) forget about those gray Seattle skies, dreaming instead of an unforgettable South Sea island paradise.

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Hello fellow wanderboomers! I’m a Seattle-based travel journalist, specializing in fun travel adventures for the young at heart. My articles have been featured in Hemispheres, AAA Highroads Magazine and Northwest Travel & Life Magazine where I'm a frequent contributor. When this Wanderboomer isn’t traveling, I help global executives polish their personal and professional brand for long-term results.